Modular two-piece floor tile

ABSTRACT

A two-piece modular floor tile includes a top member formed from wood or stone, and a support member formed from plastic and wood composite material. Each of the top and support members is of substantially rectangular. The support member is adapted to increase air circulation and decrease moisture accumulation, and does not tend to be damaged by rot and termites. In one embodiment, the support member includes a plurality of parallel longitudinal internal channels. In another embodiment, the support member includes a longitudinal projection at one side and a longitudinal mated groove at the other side. In yet another embodiment, the support member includes a plurality of parallel longitudinal bottom troughs. In a further embodiment, the top member includes a plurality of shaped elements secured together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to modular floor systems, and more particularly toa modular floor tile having a top member formed from wood or stone, andan underlying support member formed from plastic and wood compositematerial.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, indoor or outdoor floor tiles are made from stone,ceramic, hardwood, or thermoplastic.

Conventional floor tiles suffer from several disadvantages. For example,for hardwood tile it is difficult for a manufacturer to purchaseprecious wood (e.g., teak, Chinese cypress, etc.) and thus it isexpensive. For stone tile, it is also difficult for a manufacturer topurchase precious stone (e.g., granite, etc.) and thus it is alsoexpensive.

In addition, hardwood tiles tend to be damaged by moisture accumulation,rot and termites. Still, hardwood tiles tend to deform due totemperature change.

Moreover, dew tends to accumulate on the surface of stone tiles whenthey are installed in an outdoor environment. As a result, a floorconstructed by the stone tiles tends to slip. It is not safe.

Additionally, uneven underlying support surface or loose earth maydamage hardwood or stone tiles installed thereon. Thus, a need forimprovement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a modulartwo-piece floor tile comprising a top member formed from wood or stone,and a support member formed from plastic and wood composite material.The top member is joined to the support member by adhesive. The supportmember is adapted to increase air circulation for reducing temperatureand decrease the extent of moisture accumulation, and does not tend tobe damaged by rot and termites.

In one aspect of the invention the support member comprises a pluralityof parallel longitudinal internal channels for preventing the supportmember from deforming, decreasing weight, and increasing aircirculation.

In another aspect of the invention the support member comprises alongitudinal first member at one side and a longitudinal second memberat the other side. The first member is complementary to the secondmember in shape and preferably, either the first member is a projectionand the second member is a groove or the first member is a groove andthe second member is a projection so that floor tiles are joined to oneanother by, for example, lockingly inserting the projection of one tileinto the groove of an adjacent tile.

In a further aspect of the invention a plurality of parallellongitudinal bottom troughs or ridges or knurls for facilitating thesupport member securely joining to an underlying support surface such ascement surface or earth surface during installation of the floor tiles.

By utilizing this modular two-piece floor tile, it is possible ofgreatly reducing the consumption of precious wood and stone bydecreasing thickness of wood and stone components of the floor tile.Moreover, the modular two-piece floor tile is adapted to install on anuneven surface (e.g., irregular cement surface or loose earth surface)which is traditionally viewed as undesired for hardwood or stone tilesinstallation.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of modularfloor tile according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled floor tile;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of modularfloor tile according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of modularfloor tile according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a modular floor tile in accordance with afirst preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The floor tilecomprises a top member 10 and a support member 20 both being generallyrectangular configuration. Each component is discussed in detail below.

The top member 10 is formed from wood or stone. The top member 10 can bea single plate member or a unitary construction formed by laminating aplurality of layers. A top surface 11 of the top member 10 is part ofthe surface of a floor constructed by the floor tiles of the invention.A bottom surface 12 of the top member 10 is joined to the support member20 by, but not limited to, adhesive.

Plastic and wood composite material is a material prepared by mixingplastic and wood fibers. Plastic and wood composite material is highlyresistant to moisture and corrosion. Further, It is not susceptible tocrack, does not tend to be damaged by rot and termites, is not subjectto rust, and involves no painting in its finished products. For thesereasons, modular floor tiles formed from plastic and wood compositematerial are steadily gaining popularity and are widely employed asmaterials for constructing pavilions, fences, or the like.

The support member 20 is formed by subjecting plastic and wood compositematerial to an injection molding process. The support member 20comprises a top surface 21 adapted to secure to the bottom surface 12 ofthe top member 10. A joining surface of the top member 10 and thesupport member 20 can be a smooth or an uneven one. The joining can bedone by applying adhesive or snapping. The support member 20 has asufficient thickness so as to form a plurality of parallel longitudinalchannels 22 of rectangular section therein. The forming of the channels22 can prevent the support member 20 from deforming, decrease weight,increase air circulation for reducing temperature, and decrease theextent of moisture accumulation.

A longitudinal projection 23 of rectangular section is formed at oneside of the support member 20 and a longitudinal groove 24 ofrectangular section is formed at the other side thereof with thechannels 22 formed therebetween. The projection 23 and the groove 24 arecomplementary in shape so that the floor tiles are joined to one anotherby lockingly inserting the projection 23 of one tile into the matedgroove 24 of an adjacent tile. While the above embodiment discussing ajoining of the tiles by using mated projection and groove, it isapparent that the invention is not limited to such in practice.

Referring to FIG. 4, a modular floor tile in accordance with a secondpreferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The second embodiment isidentical to the first embodiment, except that the channels 22 areeliminated and a plurality of parallel longitudinal troughs 25 areformed on a bottom surface of the support member 20. The provision ofthe troughs 25 (or knurls in other embodiments) on the bottom surface ofthe support member 20 facilitates the support member 20 securely joiningto an underlying support surface such as cement surface or earth surfaceduring installation of the floor tiles. Note that the cement surface orearth surface is traditionally viewed as undesired surface due to itsuneven or rough surface.

Referring to FIG. 5, a modular floor tile in accordance with a thirdpreferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The third embodiment isidentical to the second embodiment, except that the top member 10includes a rectangular member and three triangular members securedtogether. The third embodiment is aesthetic in nature.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could bemade thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A modular floor tile comprising: a top member; and a support member,wherein each of the top member and the support member is ofsubstantially rectangular, and wherein the support member is formed froma material adapted to increase air circulation and decrease moistureaccumulation.
 2. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the topmember comprises a plurality of elements secured together.
 3. Themodular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises aplurality of parallel longitudinal internal channels.
 4. The modularfloor tile of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises alongitudinal first member at one side and a longitudinal second memberat the other side, the first member being complementary to the secondmember in shape.
 5. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein thesupport member comprises a plurality of parallel longitudinal bottomtroughs
 6. The modular floor tile of claim 1, wherein the support membercomprises a knurled bottom surface.
 7. The modular floor tile of claim4, wherein the first member is a projection and the second member is agroove.
 8. The modular floor tile of claim 4, wherein the first memberis a groove and the second member is a projection.